Marc-André Fleury facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marc-Andre Fleury
Fleury with the Vegas Golden Knights in February 2018
Born	(1984-11-28) November 28, 1984 (age 40) Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
NHL team Former teams	Minnesota Wild Pittsburgh Penguins Vegas Golden Knights Chicago Blackhawks
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	1st overall, 2003 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	2003–present

Marc-André Fleury (born November 28, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He plays for the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Fleury was picked first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Before joining the NHL, he played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He won three Stanley Cup championships with the Penguins in 2009, 2016, and 2017. In 2021, he won the William M. Jennings Trophy and the Vezina Trophy, which is given to the best goalie.

He is one of only three goalies in NHL history to reach 500 career wins. The others are Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur. He is also one of only four goalies to play 1,000 games in the NHL.

Fleury has also played for Team Canada. He won two silver medals at the World Junior Championships in 2003 and 2004. He also won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. People often call him "Flower" because his last name, Fleury, means "in bloom" or "in flower" in French.

After Craig Anderson retired in 2023, Fleury became the last active goalie who played in the NHL before the 2004–05 lockout.

Playing Career Highlights

Early Days and Junior Hockey

As a young player, Fleury played in the 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He then joined the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2000–01.

In 2002–03, he had a great season. He won a silver medal with Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Because of his strong play, the Pittsburgh Penguins chose him first overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He was only the third goalie ever to be picked first in the NHL draft. His jersey number 29 was later retired by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

Time with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–2017)

Fleury started his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003–04. He was only 18 years old, making him the youngest goalie in the league. In his first game, he made an amazing 46 saves. He got his first NHL win on October 18, 2003, against the Detroit Red Wings.

Marc-Andre Fleury in net in January 2006

During the NHL lockout season, Fleury played in the American Hockey League (AHL). When the NHL started again in 2005–06, he became the Penguins' main goalie.

In the 2006–07 season, Fleury's performance got much better. He played behind a stronger Penguins team with rising stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. He won 40 games that season, joining Tom Barrasso as the only Penguins goalies to do so. He made his NHL playoff debut against the Ottawa Senators.

Fleury helped the Penguins reach the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings. They lost the series in six games. Despite the loss, Fleury set a new team record with three shutouts in one playoff season. After this, he signed a seven-year contract with the Penguins.

Marc-André Fleury with the Stanley Cup at the Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup parade on June 15, 2009

In 2008–09, Fleury played a big part in the Penguins' success. He made many important saves throughout the playoffs. In Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings, he made two critical saves in the final seconds. This helped the Penguins win 2–1 and capture their third Stanley Cup.

The Penguins continued to be strong, but faced challenges in the playoffs. In 2010–11, with Crosby and Malkin injured, Fleury was key to getting the team to the playoffs. However, they lost in the first round.

In 2011–12, Fleury played 67 games and won 42. But the Penguins were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. His playoff struggles continued in 2012–13, where he was replaced by backup goalie Tomáš Vokoun for part of the playoffs.

Fleury in December 2014

Fleury's regular season play was strong in 2013–14. He won 39 games and had improved playoff performance. In November 2014, he recorded his 300th NHL win, becoming one of the youngest and fastest players to reach this milestone.

In the 2015–16 season, Fleury suffered a concussion. This allowed a new goalie, Matt Murray, to step up. Murray led the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup that year.

Fleury with the Stanley Cup in 2017

In 2016–17, Fleury became the starting goalie again when Matt Murray was injured in the playoffs. He led the Penguins through the first two rounds. He made 49 saves in a key Game 5 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He also shut out the Washington Capitals in Game 7 of their series. Murray returned later in the playoffs, and the Penguins went on to win their second straight Stanley Cup, Fleury's third overall.

Vegas Golden Knights (2017–2021)

On June 21, 2017, Fleury was chosen by the new Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. He helped the Golden Knights win their very first NHL game. In March 2018, he earned his 400th career win.

Fleury was a key player for the Knights in the 2018 playoffs. He led them to sweep the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. They then beat the San Jose Sharks and the Winnipeg Jets to reach the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. The Golden Knights lost the Finals to the Washington Capitals.

In the 2018–19 season, Fleury continued to play well. He led the NHL in wins and shutouts for a while. He was chosen for the 2019 NHL All-Star Game. However, the Golden Knights lost a tough Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs to the San Jose Sharks.

During the 2019–20 season, Fleury shared the net with Robin Lehner. The Golden Knights reached the conference finals but lost to the Dallas Stars.

The 2020–21 was a great season for Fleury. At 36 years old, he had his best career stats. He won his first Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie. He also won his first William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals.

Chicago Blackhawks (2021–2022)

On July 27, 2021, Fleury was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. He was the first goalie to be traded as a defending Vezina Trophy winner since Dominik Hašek. Fleury was not told about the trade beforehand and even thought about retiring. But he decided to play for the Blackhawks.

On December 9, 2021, Fleury reached his 500th win in a shutout against the Montreal Canadiens. This made him only the third goalie in NHL history to reach this amazing number of wins. On January 8, 2022, he became the first goalie in NHL history to beat all 32 NHL teams.

Minnesota Wild (2022–present)

On March 21, 2022, Fleury was traded to the Minnesota Wild. He made his debut with the Wild on March 26, winning in overtime. He played well for the Wild, and they made the playoffs. However, they were eliminated in the first round by the St. Louis Blues.

On July 7, 2022, Fleury signed a new contract to stay with the Wild. On October 30, he became the NHL leader in career shootout wins. On December 31, 2023, Fleury played his 1,000th NHL game, becoming only the fourth goalie to do so. On January 15, 2024, he became the second-winningest goalie in NHL history with his 552nd win.

On April 9, 2024, the Wild missed the playoffs, ending Fleury's amazing 17-year streak of playing in the playoffs. He signed a new one-year contract with the Wild on April 17.

International Play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Gold	2010 Vancouver
World Junior Championships
Silver	2003 Canada
Silver	2004 Finland

Fleury won two silver medals with Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championships.

His first appearance was in 2003. Canada lost to Russia in the gold medal game. However, Fleury was named the Top Goaltender and the tournament MVP.

In 2004, Fleury played for Team Canada again. He led them to the gold medal game for the second year in a row. But Canada lost to the United States after a tough play where the puck went into his own net.

On December 30, 2009, Fleury was chosen for Team Canada for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He did not play in any games, but he still received a gold medal as Canada won the tournament.

Personal Life and Nickname

Fleury with his daughter Estelle after the Penguins' 2017 Stanley Cup win in Nashville

Marc-André Fleury was born in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. When he was first drafted, he lived with hockey legend Mario Lemieux for a short time.

He married Véronique Larosee in 2012. They have two daughters and a son. In November 2023, the NHL did not allow Fleury to wear a special mask honoring his wife's Native American heritage. He wore it during warm-ups anyway, showing his support.

His nickname is "Flower." This comes from the English meaning of his last name, Fleury, which means "in bloom" or "in flower" in French. His goalie masks often have a fleur-de-lis (a French flower symbol) on the back. They also usually feature some kind of flower design on the front.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play Statistics

Awards and Honours

Fleury accepting the 2009–10 Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Good Guy Award

See also

In Spanish: Marc-André Fleury para niños